I recently acquired a 2004 (.5, I think) Polaris Sportsman which probably had not had the fluids changed for many years. I drained the oil on the day I expected to get a new filter but it did not arrive so I did not complete the change until the next day. The manual says that the oil pump can lose it's prime if left w/o oil for "an extended time". My question is, what is considered extended time, and if it loses it's prime, how do you prime it? I did not see the warning until after I finished and had run it some and the engine sounded fine so i don't think i did any damage but am still interested in some answers. Thanks, Larry

 

After I posted the thread, some links popped up about priming oil pump that talked about p9inching off a line. Just what line is that?

 

Hey Larrypac.
It is the big hose that runs from very top of oil tank to airbox .About 2 inches from tank there is usually a small slice in hose[very tough to see] pinch in between oil tank and that slit to prime make sure you don't crush nipple at hose to tank connection pinch closed [ I use needle nose vise grips] as close to slit as possible, [a real PITA to get to access to sometime] Start and allow to run at idle about one minute shut down when release you should hear a hiss. if not try again. Hope this helps